Pub footfall driven by weekday custom, figures show

The Pub Tracker research found that weekday visits to pubs increased by 4.9% in the year to 31 June 2014, compared to a 3.4% rise in the year to 31 March. Weekend visits declined by 2.1% in the year against a 0.2% rise in the year to the end of March.

The study highlighted the continuing importance of value deals in pubs.

The number of visits prompted by deals and promotions grew by 13.4% in the year (11.5% to 31 March 2014), with almost one in three (32.4%) visits driven by such initiatives.

Families​

Family dining occasions are also increasing in importance in pubs, with visits that include parties with children of all ages up 12.5% in the year (9.4% to 31 March 2014), accounting for 21.3% of all pub meal occasions during the 12-month period.

Meanwhile, adult-only meal occasions fell by 3% during that time, compared to a decline of 2.4% in the previous period.

The NPD study found that while the proportion of visits to pubs during lunch and dinner times were about the same across the period, the latter accounted for significantly higher sales.

Lunchtime accounted for 36.1% of visits and 35.6% of sales in the period. The dinner period made up 40% of the visits but accounted for half (49.9%) of the spend.

Breakfast​

Breakfasts continued to make headway in pubs, accounting for 7.5% of the visits (2013: 7.3%) and 4.4% of the sales.

BII Licensee of the Year Lee Price, of the Royal Pier in Aberystwyth, welcomed the news but stressed that weekend trade is still vital.

“Despite weekday visits being on the up, we continue to enjoy our busiest periods of trade at weekends.

“I believe the reason for an improvement in weekday trading is because publicans are working harder than ever to draw in customers, especially during slower times, with welcoming food and drink offers that are simply too good to refuse. These statistics clearly show that they are being justly rewarded for their entrepreneurial endeavours.”

Cyril Lavenant, NPD group director of foodservice UK, said: “Successful pubs recognise they cannot bank on the traditional customer coming in for a weekend session for all of their takings.”